CAPS Independent Advocacy

08/04/2026

Thank you Marta at the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) for this brilliant article:

She notes that the exhibition is making a real difference to people’s lives against the backdrop of increasing demand for mental health services. She says it “provides a compassionate, community-led space to connect, reflect, and affect real change.”

And…

“…diversity is a core strength: showcasing the uniqueness of human
experience while surfacing themes that unite us – loss and hope, illness
and recovery, search for purpose and belonging. Artists were centred
as a collective; there was no “headliner”, and every story was celebrated
equally.”

Help keep OOSOOM going. Every penny raised will be used to benefit the community in 2026.

Read the article: https://www.siaa.org.uk/information-hub/where-real-change-happens-arts-as-advocacy-in-edinburgh/

Donate: https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Image description: a screenshot of the article on the SIAA website with the title ‘Where Real Change Happens:
Arts As Advocacy in Edinburgh’ and a photograph of people visiting the exhibition]



Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition

07/04/2026

Here’s Alan inviting you to like, share or donate if you can, to help OOSOOM fundraising campaign.

Every penny raised will support a space for art, organised by and for people with mental health issues, this October.

Let’s get as close as possible to the target.

Donate and/or share.
Every action and £ will help.
https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Transcript: Hi folks how you doing? Alan here, one of the exhibitors and volunteers for Out of Sight Out of Mind, it’s an exhibition for people with lived experience of mental health, we are looking for support this year to get £10,000 raised in four weeks so we can host the exhibition in October. If you could like, donate, share these posts on GoFundMe to get us to our target and get us to where we want to be this is hugely important to our wider community of incredible people]



Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition

06/04/2026

It is the final week of the campaign…

What happens if we don’t reach the target of £10,000?

Every penny raised will be used to support the OOSOOM community. If we don’t raise enough for an exhibition in October, we hope to raise enough to do something else, like hold an art event.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far! Let’s try to get as close as possible to the target. With enough funds we can make a 14th Out of Sight Out of Mind happen!

Donate if you can.
Share if you can’t.
Every action helps.

https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Image description: A grid of posters from the 13 OOSOOM exhibitions with the words Final week!’, ‘Thank you’, ‘ ’ and ‘Support’ and the GoFundMe logo.]

Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Mental Health Foundation
Summerhall
SAMH
Norton Park Business and Conference Centre
Voices Of eXperience (VOX)
Access to Industry
Edinburgh Headway Group
See Me Scotland

05/04/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 6/6: Manifesto for a Revolution

‘Inspired by the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival theme of' ‘revolution’ the Planning Group created a Manifesto for a Revolution on a gallery wall. Exhibition visitors added their ‘revolutions’ around the room.’

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows hundreds of people to speak together, each year.

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign.

[The words ‘OOSOOM allows hundreds of people to speak together, each year!’ and ‘Help ensure this space continues in 2026!’, the gofundme logo, ‘Help Share’ and ‘Help Support’, images of ‘Manifesto for a Revolution’ written on a grey wall, a list which begins with ‘This revolution will not be out of sight, this revolution will not be out of mind’. Also images of people writing their thoughts on the theme of revolution on a white wall under the title ‘What is your revolution?’, thoughts include ‘the revolution will be kind’.]



CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Summerhall

04/04/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 5/6: Here’s one exhibitor speaking about their work, ‘Downward spiral’

‘Downward spiral’ reflects (literally) my lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. The spiral is heading downwards because I suffer more lows than highs and each revolution of the spiral represents a decade of my life.’

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows people to speak and be heard about their experiences.

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign. Link in bio.

[Transcript: Downward spiral was shown in the 2023 out of sight out of mind exhibition. the idea for this artwork came to me while I slept. I woke up knowing exactly what I was going to do with the multitude of pill bottles I had amassed over the years they were trying to diagnose me. It consists of 50 medication containers, all mine, descending in a spiral, inside a case which features mirrors top and bottom to reflect the endless ups and downs of being trapped in the mental health system as I have been for years.]


Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Summerhall
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition
CAPS Independent Advocacy

03/04/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 4/6: Trio of Pots from Potty Potter by Marianne

‘I like these different styles of pottery. It was fun to learn new skills.’

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows people to make and show art!

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign. Donate link: https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Image description: Three ceramic pots arranged on a clean white window sill, they have curvy irregular shapes in white and brown with a shiny glaze]



CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Summerhall

02/04/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 3/6: Secret Garden by MECOPP

‘We are Gypsy/Travellers – but we don’t always feel we can say that out loud. We regularly face stigma and prejudice and we feel we have to hide ourselves away. But, if you look closely enough, we are always there!’

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows people to use art to speak to the public about issue that affect them.

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign. Donate link:https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Image description: a large artwork featuring many leaves, ivy, moss and other green plants and colourful flowers]

01/04/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 2/6: The Revolution Shall Be Miniaturised’ by Lauren

‘I am passionate about social change and yearn for a world free from the various systems of oppression including capitalism, patriarchy, white supremacy, authoritarian rule and ableism. I want a revolution to achieve a significant societal shift, but unless minorities unite and the majority support us in starting one, it just doesn’t seem to be on the cards right now.

Instead, I’ve found a creative outlet of making miniature weaponry and tools for the revolution to channel my desire for change. These serve as symbolic representations of my aspirations for a more just and equitable world for all people, including those who are disabled, ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+, and those living below the poverty line.

Revolutionary Barbie, the Barbie doll in this exhibit, represents every woman and non-binary person who is looking for change. Bring on the revolution.’

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows people to say what’s important to them.

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign. https://gofund.me/2e41e474e



Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Summerhall
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition

31/03/2026

OOSOOM Artwork Story 1/6:

“Rollercoaster”

“My daughter died of cancer four years ago. This knitted piece is my daily emotional journal.
Black – suicidal
Red – anxious
Green – past caring
Orange – exhausted
Purple – hopeful
Blue – maybe I can do this
Yellow – happy”

Out of Sight Out of Mind allows deeply personal experiences to be shared through art.

Help ensure this space continues in 2026. Donate or share the campaign. Donate link: https://gofund.me/2e41e474e

[Image description: two people look at a long knitted multicoloured scarf that is partially rolled up in a glass-fronted cabinet and extends outside the cabinet.]



CAPS Independent Advocacy
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
Summerhall

31/03/2026

The Edinburgh Minute newsletter did a wonderful job of sharing our fundraising campaign for Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition we're grateful for the support, sharing goes a long way! Please share: https://gofund.me/1ccece87c

Image description: The Edinburgh Minute article on the fundraiser for Out Of Sight Out Of Mind Exhibition, 'Help make the 14th OOSOOM happen' with the posters from the exhibition.

31/03/2026

31/03/2026